Medical patients construct schematic representations of illness which may impact on their recovery and adjustment with their medical condition. The purpose of the present study was to examine relationship between the history of myocardial infarction (MI) and illness representations among post-MI patients.

One hundred seventy six consecutive patients following MI admitted to the CCU wards were selected based on the inclusive and exclusive criteria. The patients completed demographic questionnaire and Brief Illness Perception questionnaire (B-IPQ). Their medical data were obtained from medical records and history of MI was confirmed by cardiologist based on one of the following criteria: clinical symptoms, Enzima indices, electrocardiographic changes, echocardiography, and angiography. Therefore, the patients were divided into two groups with and without previous MI. Chi-squared test, Student's t-test, MANCOVA and Covariance were used to analyze the data.

The findings showed that 30.1% had previous MI. The results of MANCOVA indicated that Significant difference between two groups in B-IPQ scores (F= 2.653, P= 0.025). Also, the results of covariance showed that significant differences in three domains of illness perception including identity (F= 4.776, P= 0.03), consequences (F= 70671, P= 0.006) and timeline (F= 10.092, P= 0.002). However, there were no significant differences in controllability (F=0.165 P= 0.687) and treatability (F=0.26, P=0.611) between two groups.

Generally, post MI patients with previous MI likely develop negative schema about MI. Also having previous MI may impact on perception of identity, consequences and timeline of MI.